At Least 2 Dead, 26 Others Injured After Fiery Car Crash Involving Over 50 Vehicles on Icy Road

At least two people are dead and dozens more were hurt after a massive, multi-vehicle pileup on a highway in Japan.

Around 7:30 p.m. local time on Friday, Dec. 26, a large truck struck a mid-sized truck that had stopped on the Kan-Etsu Expressway, Japan Today, The Japan Times, The Asahi Shimbun and NHK World reported.

The crash set off a chain reaction near the Minakami Interchange, with more than 50 vehicles colliding, according to the outlets. At least 10 vehicles caught fire in the aftermath, The Japan Times reported, citing officials at the prefecture’s expressway traffic police unit.

NHK World reported that it took more than seven hours to put out the fires. Authorities have confirmed two deaths and 26 injuries, per the outlets.

One of the victims was identified as Miyuki Wakita, according to The Japan Times. The 77-year-old Tokyo resident was riding in the back seat of a family member’s car when she was killed.

A second victim — not yet publicly identified — was found dead in the driver’s seat of a truck the next morning, Saturday, Dec. 27, The Japan Times reported.

Five of the 26 injured people are in serious condition, while the remaining 21 sustained minor injuries, according to The Asahi Shimbun.

The collisions happened as officials had imposed a speed limit of just under 40 mph because snowfall had left the roadway slick.

“The ice made it difficult for me to control the steering wheel,” a truck driver in his 60s told Japan Today, saying his vehicle hit the median while he swerved to avoid another car. “I feared for my life,” he added, noting he heard what sounded like four explosions behind him.

As of 7 a.m. local time on Dec. 27, both lanes between the Yuzawa and Tsukiyono interchanges remained closed.

“At present, it is not yet known when the road closure will be lifted and it is expected to take a considerable amount of time,” The Asahi Shimbun reported, citing East Nippon Expressway Co.